Recipe: Easy Chicken Chili to Warm up this Winter

Whether it’s for a neighborhood cook-off or just a cozy meal on a cold day, everyone has a special twist on the classic chili dish.

We sat down with Eli Kirshtein, former Top Chef: Las Vegas contestant to talk about his favorite chicken chili recipe.

“Fresh chilies are a must for me – they add more dimension,” said Kirshtein, who first tested his culinary chops at the age of 16, working as a protégé in the kitchens of Atlanta Chefs Kevin Rathbun and Richard Blais, and then went on to lead kitchens at acclaimed restaurants in New York City and Miami.

“The best way to add flavor is to toast the spices.”

The key to a good chicken chili, advises Kirshtein, is to get fattier chicken and always start your meat and vegetables on high heat to sear the flavor in and give the meat a more appetizing color. Once it is up to temp, never let it get hotter than a simmer.

“Also, I leave out beans as they are typically just filler most of the times. Many chili competitions actually don’t let you use beans.”

Kirshtein also suggested roasting spices for 30 to 45 seconds to bring a brighter taste to the dish. For those who like chili a little spicier, consider leaving seeds in the chilies when cooking. If you prefer sweeter, you can increase the amount of tomato ingredients in the pot.

Is Chick-fil-A open on New Year’s? Good news! If you’re looking to end 2018 with a Nugget tray or ring in 2019 with Waffle Fries, Chick-fil-A will be open for both. On New Year’s Eve, most Chick-fil-A locations will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. On New Year’s Day, most restaurants will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Every year, it’s our pleasure to serve the millions of guests who pass through Chick-fil-A drive-thrus across the nation. We’ve served a lot of chicken and seen a lot of faces – some familiar, some new and some even furry. As another year comes to a close, Chick-fil-A is paying tribute to some of the most interesting drive-thru moments over the years.